Stalham's 'Little Bloomers' Recycle Waste to Help Their Garden Grow

Copyright NNDC

Six keen little gardeners from Stalham Community First School could teach everyone a lesson or two when it comes to disposing of kitchen or garden waste.

Instead of throwing away their grass cuttings, weeds and the school's daily production of dozens of apple cores, orange peels and banana skins, the members of the newly-formed 'Little Bloomers Gardening Club' decided to compost the waste, and return its goodness to the soil.

Initially, however, the girls had a problem because they didn't have a composter, so they wrote to North Norfolk District Council to ask for a free one. The brand new compost bin, which is already in frequent use, arrived at the school just a week or so later.

NNDC's Contracts Manager, John Peet was delighted to help Stalham's Little Bloomers. "We're keen to encourage everyone to recycle their rubbish and to compost organic waste, but we didn't make an exception for Stalham Community First School by giving them a free compost bin. Any school in North Norfolk can have one - they simply have to ask, and we'll arrange delivery."

The six members of The Little Bloomers Gardening Club are: Abigail Sweeney, Hannah Morgan, Kerri Eke, Paige Sellick, and Kellie Brown, who are all seven years old, and Clara Ross-Benham, who is eight.

Together, with a little help from their teacher, Mrs Elizabeth Jackson, and good practical advice from members of 'Stalham in Bloom', the girls plan to make their school grounds and gardens "look pretty", and they have already planted "all sorts of flowers and vegetables" in their Millennium Garden, a school swimming pool until it was filled in some three years ago. Looking outside their school and wanting to improve the appearance of their community as well, the Little Bloomers have been busy since Christmas painting and replanting flower boxes for Stalham Town Hall.

Staff of schools in North Norfolk can arrange to receive a free compost bin by calling North Norfolk District Council on (01263) 513811 and asking for the Contracts Division.

ENDS

Caption details: The Little Bloomers - Kellie (with glasses) and Kerri are in the compost bin; Hannah is holding the bin lid, and in the front, from the left, are Paige, Abigail and Clara.